DEBATE-O-RAMA

By Celia Cohen
Grapevine Political Writer

The Happening was more interesting than the debate.

It was Harry Reid's pet vs. Sarah Palin's Mama
Grizzly. It was the bearded Marxist against the witch.

The University of Delaware in Newark was alive
Wednesday for the Senate debate broadcast on CNN between
Chris Coons, the earnest Democratic executive of
New Castle County, and Christine O'Donnell, the
Republican tea party novelty.

Television correspondents dotted the campus mall for
their stand-ups as though it were the White House lawn.
There were gaggles of people holding up political signs
-- "I'm me, and I'm voting for Chris Coons" and "Chris
Coons + Your Vote = Higher Taxes" among them -- while
chants for and against the candidates punctured the air.

It was a beautiful evening for a protest. A Bernese
Mountain Dog wore a light blue O'Donnell t-shirt. There
was the occasional witch hat in evidence. No
masturbation, though.

Some 160 members of the media, including 50 foreign
journalists, congregated for the event. Jack Markell,
the Democratic governor, held a press conference for
some of them beforehand and offered a wry perspective.

"It is quite remarkable that the eyes of the world
would shift at least for a short time from the
incredible happenings [of the mine rescue] in Chile,"
Markell said.

"Many of us thought Mike Castle would be here, but of
course, if he was here, many of you would not be here."

As for the debate itself, well, neither Coons nor
O'Donnell was any Joe Biden. They were not even Mike
Castle. Or Ted Kaufman.

Delawareans will have some adjusting to do. Their
three-member delegation in Washington has not switched
in anything less than a departing governor since 1982.
Its collective seniority has not been this low since the
early 1970s, and the debate scene included a living
reminder of it.

The occasion brought together Pete du Pont, the
Republican ex-governor, and John Daniello, the
Democratic state chair. Forty years ago, they would have
been the ones on the stage for a debate in the open
congressional race, which du Pont won.

They almost never meet. This debate really was some
kind of draw.

The main event, played in Mitchell Hall in front of
about 640 people, was kind of humdrum. O'Donnell was not
burned at the stake. Coons was not exposed as a Soviet
spy.

The only break in decorum was a momentary outburst
from the balcony. It was seen close up by Brian Selander,
the governor's chief strategy officer, who happened to
be nearby as two people shouted "Baba Booey," an old
line from the Howard Stern Show. They were directed to
leave, and that was that.

The debate was no time to leave spontaneity to
chance. The candidates sounded like they came armed with
quotable lines of defense.

When Coons pressed O'Donnell about creating
distractions from "core issues" like job growth, she
parried, "You're just jealous that you weren't on
'Saturday Night Live.'"

Coons deflected references to college banter calling
him a bearded Marxist with a deadpan delivery, saying,
"I am not now, nor have I ever been, anything but a
clean-shaven capitalist."

Who won the debate? Although O'Donnell succeeded
simply by not casting a spell, the advantage had to go
Coons. He did nothing to endanger his respectable lead
in the polls, and his views on social issues connected
him with the good old middle-of-the-road voters who
dominate the electorate here.

An exchange about embryonic stem cell research showed
the difference between them.

Coons favored spending federal funds for it, a
position that could appeal to the moderate voters who
were set adrift by Castle's defeat in the primary.
Castle was "Mr. Stem Cell," an association that cost him
with conservatives.

By contrast, O'Donnell declared, "The federal
government should not be in the business of creating
life simply to destroy it."

After an hour and a half, it was over. The media mob
decamped for the next campaign spectacle, the sideshow
in Delaware done. Markell in his press conference was
asked what the voters were most concerned about, and the
governor said jobs, but there was probably something
else.

Stop the late-night ridicule. End the embarrassment.
The voters will do what they have to do.